06.22.08

A&D Sweater Support Week 3

Posted in Knitting, Photos, Sweater(s) at 4:18 pm by delipics

Knitting was actually accomplished Thursday night!

First I had to consult with Alex on the sizing of the Cozy V-neck. And of course, she confirmed that the sweater was too, too big. I was in a ripping-out-denial for the last several weeks - as if something will miraculously change if I show it to someone else. “Oh no, you don’t have to rip-out. Your eyes were all wrong. Everything is fine!” I had pre-warned Alex that hand holding was going to be in order.

Alex agreed with me to decrease under the armholes to improve the fit. I pulled out at least four inches from the body. Once it was over, in about 30 seconds, a huge weight was lifted off of me. What a relief; I don’t know what I was waiting for. I need to not make my knitting so precious. I told Alex I don’t mind ripping out rows, for other people’s knitting. This could be a new job - give me your knitting and I will rip it out for you.

Alex has made beautiful progress. She finished the cabling on Marjorie and has started the armhole.

The next photo I show of the Cozy V-neck should will show the beginning of the ribbing.

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06.04.08

Raquel’s Scarf

Posted in Knitting, Photos, Scarf, Yarn at 4:43 pm by delipics

Here she is, the lovely Raquel modeling her new scarf!

Isn’t she great? It was fun knitting this for her. The last two scarves I have made for friends I put a lot of thought into - from the color, the yarn choice, and to most importantly, a design that truly reflects the wearer. Raquel already knew she wanted an orange scarf, and this label-less yarn (donated by another friend) reflects Raquel’s personality. It’s a yarn with sparkles and unexpected changes. The open-work of the stitch pattern is also very Raquel-like and the fringe too. I added the fringe at the last minute and I kept it long in case she wants to trim it to her liking. All right, scarf-desiring friends - who’s next?

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05.29.08

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Posted in Brooklyn, Knitting, Photos, Sweater(s) at 6:17 pm by delipics

Memorial Day - knitting and spinning at Brooklyn Bridge Park. My honey calls this the Sex & the Knitty photo!

Maria pulls out her spindle to spin lace weight. There was knitting, but the photos I took of knitting did not come out well.

These are the results of my knitting that day. Cozy V-neck progress - I’m pleased with how the fit is coming along nicely.

Seeehxy!

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05.25.08

A&D Sweater Support: Weeks 1 & 2

Posted in Knitting, Photos, Sweater(s) at 11:45 am by delipics

About a month ago, I wrote about my fear of sweater knitting. Alex proposed a simple and brilliant idea to help overcome sweater fear - Sweater Support! In which we meet every other week at The Point and help each other as we knit through our chosen sweater patterns (sweets optional but always helpful).

Alex is knitting Marjorie from Knitty. I chose the Cozy V-Neck from Stefanie Japel’s Fitted Knits.

Week 1:

We both cast-on. Much counting of stitches and triple-checking of counted stitches. Mild swearing. Red velvet cupcakes consumed. Night ends with birthday celebrations at a Thai restaurant.

Week 2:

Sweater support kicks into action - Alex helps me figure out the right count of stitches for the front and back of my sweater. I admire her progress - check out those cables baby! Chocolate chip banana bread sustains us.

Striking a classic pose - I tried on the sweater to check if I am at the right point of separating the sleeves from the rest of the body. (See Barbara Kerr in the background?)

Evening ends with Thai food, again. Carmine Street has good Thai. I’ve become addicted to vegetarian duck.

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05.13.08

Knitted Birthday Bag - or - Alex is the Most Amazing Knitter

Posted in Lace Knitting, Photos, Sewing at 3:34 pm by delipics

I must show this off -

Alex knitted this bag for my birthday. I LOVE IT! She is the most amazing knitter. Look how beautiful it is. The funny thing is, she used yarn I gave to her for her birthday. You know what this means? It means I’m going to have to get a new outfit to go with this bag.

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05.07.08

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2008

Posted in Fibers, Photos, Spinning, Travel, Yarn, cooking/food, shopping at 5:17 pm by delipics

Happiness is attending a fiber festival –

See more festival photos here.

What an experience! I went with Maria and Jocelyn, two experienced MDSW festival attenders who showed me, the newbie, the ropes. We did so much!

Day 1:

Wake up at 6:30 a.m., shower, continental breakfast at The Days Inn because not enough time to go to Waffle House.
Pack bags, load-up the car with spinning wheels, get breakfast / coffee for Maria & Jocelyn.
Drop off Maria’s and Jocelyn’s spinning wheels.
Run to The Fold. Stand amazed at the line that is already there. Push way in to look at the yarn. Stand in line and chat with other excited knitters. Spend time going back to look, consult with friends, go back, consult — purchase two skeins.
Help Maria take her fleece to Zeilinger’s.
Wander around main exhibition hall. Become very excited by the process of wool rug hooking. Buy a starter kit, marvel at the designs of the rug hookers working at the table. Very nice ladies - they answered all my questions
Lunch - pit lamb sandwich. Decide still hungry and get a lamb burger.
Go to Judith MacKenzie McCuin’s talk on Getting Your Fleece Processed.
Maria & Jocelyn go to their spinning class.
Find a grassy, shaded area and nap for an hour. Wake up and work on Raquel’s scarf.
Eat vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. Feel sick.
Go back to main exhibition area and contemplate which yarn to buy. Decide to put off for tomorrow.
Meet up with M&J. Share a plate of ribbon potato chips with everything - sour cream, cheese, jalapenos, bacon bits, fake green onion bits. Now truly sick.
Just as we’re about to make our way to the car, we get distracted by the yarns and rovings at Persimmon Tree Farm. M&J buy more roving.
Drive to the Ravelry party. Accidentally walk through a wedding reception. Arrive way too early so sit outside of the pool and chat with Michelle from Philadelphia & Kristy from Minneapolis. (Forgot their blogs names!)
Ravelry party starts. Get nametags. Get drink tickets. Get drinks and munchies. We sit outside but get annoyed by the bugs and retreat to the inside. Get teased for being too New York and not able to handle bugs. Jocelyn’s friend meets up with us.
Leave Ravelry party to get dinner - Ethiopian food in downtown Fredrick. Jocelyln completely charms the owners because she lived in Ethiopia for two years.
Back to the Days Inn to pass out.

Day 2

Wake up at 6:30 a.m. to pack up the car and check out.
Maria goes to class. Go shopping with Jocelyn.
Buy yarn from Persimmon Tree Farm in a beautiful orange and brown colorway.
Buy yarn from The Fibre Company. $4.50 a skein!!! Go with ten of basic black and ten of a gorgeous blue to complement Darren’s eyes.
Back to main exhibition hall to buy a rug hook and embroidery hoop. Want to start working on my rug hooking kit.
Jocelyn convinces me to try out spinning wheels. Meet Jim of the Yarn Barn, bond over the fact that I’m from Lawrence, Kansas too. He teaches me how to spin and try out various wheels - the Lendrum Folding, the Kromski Sonata and the Ashford Traveller. So tempted to purchase one but exert self control . . . for now.
Lunch - another pit lamb sandwich - this time the platter!
M&J go to color knitting class.
Find nap location from previous day. Start working on rug hooking. Take nap.
Wander from tent to tent in case I missed anything good.
Go back to the music performance area. Sit under tree and knit on Raquel’s scarf.
Meet up with M&J, eat, pack and get on the road. There is so much in the car that I can’t see Jocelyn in the back seat. Thankfully we’re all petite women and we can fit amidst all the fiber!
Arrive home safe, sound and fiber happy!